Propulsion device for craft in fluids



Aug. 7, 1962 J. E. FlSK 3,048,141

PROPULSION DEVICE FOR CRAFT IN FLUIDS Filed Dec. 23, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 7, 1962 J. E. FISK 3,048,141

PROPULSION DEVICE FOR CRAFT IN FLUIDS Filed Dec. 23, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

1962 J. E. FlSK 3,048,141

PROPULSION DEVICE FOR CRAFT IN FLUIDS Filed Dec. 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Aug. 7, 1962 J. E. FISK PROPULSION DEVICE FOR CRAFT IN FLUIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 23, 1960 Jug INVENTOR.

Aug. 7, 1962 J. E; FISK PROPULSION DEVICE FOR CRAFT IN FLUIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 x WE YEW. VIA/IAIIWMMM W Filed Dec. 25, 1960 INVENTOR.

htates Patented Aug. 7, 1962 has 3,048,141 PROPULSION DEVIQE FOR CRAFT IN FLUEDS John Edwin Fisk, 1408 Golden Gate Blvd May'field Heights, Ohio Filed Dec. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 78,183 8 Claims. (Cl. l22.2)

This invention relates to a device for the propulsion of craft in fluids. More specifically, it is for the purpose of propelling water craft in water and/ or air craft in air.

An object of this invention is to provide a sheet of suitable material and cause it, when attached to movable craft, to undulate much in the manner of fish or other aquatic animals such as lizards, alligators, or snakes which assume such motion for the purpose of moving in their natural habitat.

Also, to assume the motion of a banner flying in the wind where, instead of being held fast, it is caused to wave and undulate by a source of power, and on fastened to free craft will consequently cause it to move.

To be more specific, the sheet will be caused to undulate by an oscillatory movement at one end, the other end of the sheet being adjustable more or less from oscillatory movement. I

This device is also readily adaptable to the propulsion of land craft when such craft, supported on terra firma by low friction means such as wheels, can attain movement by utilizing the surrounding air.

This device for propulsion is also adaptable to water craft for under-surface travel.

This device for propulsion can be activated by either manual power or mechanical power for air, land, underwater, or surface water travel. Although the various means for adaption are not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such adaption is readily conceivable from the description thereof.

Another object is to provide a sheet of liexuous material and cause it to undulate for the purpose of propulsion of craft in fluids when attached to such craft, and to provide means to cause the sheet to be more taut than normally to change the depth and length of the undulations to vary the speed of the craft.

It is generally known that certain hazards are present in the use of rotating rigid screws or propellers for propulsion means of water craft or air craft. It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide an undulating non-rigid propulsion means for such craft which is com paratively non-hazardous.

Another object is to provide a comparatively silent propulsion means whereby there is a minimum of turbulence in the afterflow.

Another object of this invention is to provide a propulsion means for skin divers consisting of a flexuous sheet member attached to a suitable framework, and means for causing the sheet to undulate to provide propulsion under water.

Another object of this device is to provide a propulsion means for skin divers which is consider-ably less expensive to the user than presently known devices.

Still another object is to provide means for causing a continuous propagation of undulations in a flexuous sheet for the purpose of the propulsion of craft in fluids.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which- FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically the flexuous sheet member curved empirically to illustrate its undulatory action when one end is oscillated;

FIG. 2 shows the same sheet in a subsequent undulatory curve when the sheet has been made more taut than as shown in FIG. 1, and the oscillatory motion reduced;

FIG. 3 shows my invention adapted to an under-surface water craft;

. FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on the line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a surface water craft with the device assembled and attached to the stern of such craft;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of one application of my invention to air craft;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a mechanism which can be. utilized to vary the oscillatory action of the device;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 10, but with the principal parts in a subsequent position to alter the oscillatory action; and

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 1313 in FIG. 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail and especially to FIG. 1 wherein S represents the fiexuous sheet shown with one end oscillated to cause it to undulate for its entire length, the depth and wave length of each undulation naturally increasing in length and decreasing in depth beginning at the source or leading end 10. The wave length 10a to 10b, as well as the depth ltlc to 10d, is effected by natural causes due to the oscillatory throw 10c to 1% of the leading end 10 and the fieXuosity of the sheet S. The sheet S being extensible, can be drawn more taut than originally to lengthen the undulations as at 10g and 10h and to decrease the depth 10 to 10k, as shown in FIG. 2.

The end opposite of the leading end, or as referred to hereinafter as the trailing end, is restricted more or less by dual link members, one of which is shown at 10m.

It can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that once motion has been achieved by the craft to which the device has been attached, the velocity of the craft can be increased even when decreasing its power source simply by varying the tautness of the sheet.

The principle of this invention adapted for the propulsion of under-surface water craft is illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 wherein the leading end 10 of the fiexuous sheet S is engirdled on a cross bar 31 connecting a pair of manually operative oscillatory arm members 32. It is preferred to have the leading edge of the sheet gradually taper from the thickness of the engirdled portion to the normal thickness of the sheet.

The craft consists mainly of a pair of side frame members 33 and 34 held together by cross bars 35 and 36, and also an operators supporting shelf 37. The trailing end of the flexuous sheet S is fastened to a cross bar 38 which extends the full Width of the sheet and joining, at each end, a pair of links, one of which is shown at 39. The opposite ends of the links 39 are arranged to swivel about a cross bar 40 which connects a pair of manually operative levers, one of which is shown at 41. One end of both of the bars 47 is arranged to swivel about the cross bar 36. The two ends of a cross bar 42 serve to connect the levers 41 and also to provide a footing for manually causing the sheet to become more or less taut.

The steering of this craft, up or down, is accomplished by an unbalancing of oscillatory movement of the leading end of the sheet. To change the direction of travel from a forward course to either left or to right requires the operator of the craft to shift slightly to tilt the craft from a horizontal plane, and on a desired angle alter the length of either oscillatory stroke to cause an unbalance of the reciprocating movement of the leading end of the fiexuous sheet.

The application of an undulating fiexuous sheet for the propulsion of surface water craft is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 wherein is a stern portion of such craft provided with the device modified to be removably fastened thereto and manually operable.

The propulsion device for this application consists of a downwardly extending bracket 51 swivelly supported to the backboard 52 of the craft by two clamps 53. The bracket 51 is arranged to rotatably support a downwardly extending shaft 54 approximately centrally of the clamps 53. The lower end of the shaft 54 has an arm 55 pinned thereto which is arranged to normally extend below the surface of the water. The opposite end of the arm 55 has a downwardly extending pin 56 which serves to support the leading end of the fiexuous sheet S engirdled thereto. The trailing end of the sheet member S is supported by an extension 57 of the bracket 51. Tension springs 58 are provided intermediate of the trailing end 60 of the sheet S and the tail end 59 of extension 57 to normally hold the sheet taut. The upper end of the shaft 54 has pinned thereto a manually operable lever extending inboard from the shaft 54 supported by the bracket 51.

With this arrangement, when the lever 61 is oscillated, the pin 56 supporting the lead end of the sheet S will also oscillate causing a continuous flow of undulations in the sheet S beginning at the leading end and terminating at the trailing end causing the craft to move. The steering of the craft can be accomplished by an unbalance of the oscillatory movement of the lever 61.

The application of this invention for the propulsion of craft in air is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein is an aircraft with a fuselage 70a, wings 70b, and a tail portion shown at 70c.

Situated forward of an operators compartment 70d is a motor 71 arranged to oscillate a pitman 72 through a speed reducer 73.

Securely fastened to the fuselage are depending brackets 74 to which a pair of side arms 75 are pivotally connected at 76. A cross bar 77 connecting the side arms 75 supports the leading end of the fiexuous sheet S. The trailing end of the fiexuous sheet S engirdles a cross bar 78 which connects a pair of links, one of which is shown at 79. A lever 80 pivoted at 81 on a depending bracket 82 serves to make the sheet S more or less taut through a cable 82 extending from the lever 80 to a ratchet lever assembly, shown generally at 83. A similar ratchet lever, shown at 84, is manually operatable to vary the throw of the pitman 72 and side arm members 75.

The means for altering the oscillatory stroke of the pitman 72 is illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the mechanism wherein a crank arm 85 is rigidly fastened to a drive shaft 86 by a bolt 87 and a key 88.

Slidably mounted on the drive shaft 86 is a yoke operatable member 89 which is keyed to the drive shaft by a key 90. A splined or threaded shaft 91 engaging member 89 through a hole having mating splines or threads is so arranged that movement of the member 89 along the drive shaft 86 will impart a rotary motion to shaft 91. The helix angle of the splines or threads is great enough to allow this action to take place freely.

The other end of the shaft 91 has as an integral part, a disc-shaped head 92 rotatably mounted in a recess 93 in the crank arm 85 and held from longitudinal movement by a spacer 94 and a pinned collar 95. Integral with the head 92 is a pin 96 arranged to swivelly support one end of a pitman 97. Diametrically opposite to the shaft 91 is a similarly splined or threaded shaft 98 engaging the crank arm 85 and member 89. The disc-shaped head of this shaft has a portion 99 thereof substantially thicker to act to counterbalance the throw of the pitman 97.

It can be seen from this arrangement that, as the crank arm 85 is rotating and thereby imparting an oscillatory motion to the pitman 97, the stroke or throw of the pitman can be altered by the movement of the yoke 100, swivelly mounted to the speed reducer housing at 101. The yoke bifurcately engages the sliding member 89 at diametrically opposite sides 102.

The movement of the yoke while altering the throw of the pitman 97 will simultaneously alter the position of the counterweight portion 99 to compensate for the change of positions of the pitman.

The views FIG. 10 and FIG. 12 show the two extremes of the pin 96 supporting the pitman, from the center of rotation, but it can be operatably positioned in any position between and including the two extreme positions.

The accompanying drawings illustrate clearly that to conform with the natural laws for the propulsion of craft in fluids by the anguilliform movement of fiexuous members attached thereto and to achieve propulsion in a fluid with a degree of efficiency, it is preferred that the leading end of such fiexuous attachments be oscillated in an arc specifically in the intended direction of travel and generally ahead or forward of the pivot means for the forceful intromission of a desired volume of fluid. The length portion of such fiexuous members to their trailing ends serves as an expulsion means of the fluid volume so received.

This invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, includes this concept for the most efficient means of propulsion of craft in fluids by the anguilliform motion of such propelling means.

It is not intended to confine the principle of this invention to any one form of motive power, and it is intended that all crafts herein illustrated can be modified to use either manual or motor power source.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for the propulsion of craft in fluids, said device consisting of a fiexuous sheet held suspended from the craft, and means for oscillating one end of the said sheet to cause a natural flow of undulations in the sheet from the said one end and means at the opposite end to loosen or tauten the said sheet to lessen or increase the undulations in the said sheet.

2. A device for the propulsion of surface water craft, consisting of a fiexuous sheet held suspended from the craft to come in contact with the water, and means to manually oscillate a leading end of the fiexuous sheet to cause a flow of undulations in the said fiexuous sheet and resilient means at a trailing end of the said fiexuous sheet to hold the fiexuous sheet normally taut.

3. A propulsion device for under-surface water craft, consisting of a fiexuous sheet held suspended from the craft substantially parallel thereof and means at the forward end of the said craft to oscillate the leading end of the said sheet to cause a flow of undulations in the said sheet, and means at the rearward end of the craft and fastened to the trailing end of the said sheet to extend the said sheet to alter the length and depth of the undulations in the said sheet.

4. A propulsion device for under-surface water craft consisting of a fiexuous sheet held suspended from the craft, the leading end of the said sheet engirdled to a cross bar extending substantially the width of the craft, the ends of the said cross bar fastened to a pair of manually oscillatable levers pivotally connected to a pair of side 0 frame members of the craft, the trailing end of the said sheet engirdled to a cross bar fastened to a pair of oscillatable links pivotally connected to a pair of levers which are pivotally connected to the said side frame members and arranged to be manually operatable to lessen or increase the flexuosity of the said sheet when the oscillatable levers are oscillated.

5. A propulsion device for under-surface water craft wherein the said craft consists of a pair of side frame members spaced from each other and having fastened therebetween an operators supporting shelf, the said propulsion device consisting of a fiexuous sheet held suspended from the said craft beneath and spaced from the said operators shelf, and lever means at the forward end of the craft to oscillate the leading end of the said flexuous sheet to cause a flow of undulations in the said sheet, and manually operative lever means at the rearward end of the craft to alter the length and depth of the undulations in the said sheet, in unbroken degrees of variation by extending the said flexuous sheet.

6. A device for the propulsion of craft in air, the craft having a fuselage and wings attached thereto, and a tail portion, the said propulsion device consisting of a flexuous sheet held suspended from the craft at opposite ends of said sheet, the said sheet extending generally parallel to the fuselage from a forward end of the craft toward the tail portion and motofacient means at the forward end of the craft to oscillate the leading end of the said sheet to cause a flow of undulations in the said sheet, and means extending from the tail portion of the craft to lessen or increase the tautness of the said sheet to vary the length and depth of the undulations in the said sheet.

7. A device for the propulsion of aircraft, consisting of a flexuous sheet held suspended from the aircraft, the leading end of the said sheet arranged to be oscillated by a pitman to cause a flow of undulations in the said sheet, the said pitman connected to a crank arm which is rotated by a motor and speed reducer unit, and means to manually vary the throw of the pitman to change the oscillatory action of the leading end of the said sheet to alter the length and depth of the undulations in the said sheet, in unbroken degrees of variation during the time the said sheet is being oscillated.

8. The device according to claim 7 and further including means operatively connected to the said crank arm to vary a counterbalance of the pitman simultaneously with the varying of the throw of the said pitman.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,722 Bergen Dec. 9, 1919 2,292,609 Buehler Aug. 11, 1942 2,611,321 Shafer Sept. 23, 1952 

